2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: New York Yankees

2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: New York Yankees

This might be the best Yankees team in the past few years. Mostly everyone is healthy (for now) Juan Soto is playing insane, and their rotation has been lights out. They’ll definitely be buyers at the trade deadline, but how much do the Yankees really need?

The team so far

Record(As of 6/7/24): 45-19, 4.5 game lead in AL East

Best hitters: Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo

Best pitchers: Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver

Buyers or Sellers?

Big-time buyers. However, there isn’t too much the Yankees need to get. Their rotation has been stellar, and it’s been without Gerrit Cole, who’s set to return soon. With Judge and Soto leading the offense, there isn’t much help they need either.

Holmes has been arguably the best closer in baseball so far. Perhaps a few more high-powered arms to help set Holmes up would be good. Another corner infield bat could also help give the lineup an even extra spark as well.

Ryan Helsley

Plugging in Ryan Helsley to set up Holmes would be an incredible bullpen. He leads all of MLB in saves with 20 is is sporting a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings.

He’s under club control until 2026, so the Yankees may have to dip into the farm system. Brian Cashman is a top-tier prospect hugger, but he’s always found ways to make trades without giving up top prospect names. Adding an arm like Helsley almost feels needed if the Yankees truly want to run away with a title.

Tanner Scott

Tanner Scott will be a free agent after this year, making him a perfect trade chip. His ERA sits at 1.50 with 25 strikeouts, and left-handed relievers are always a hot commodity.

Because he’s a rental, the Yankees shouldn’t have to give up much to acquire Scott. Whether you place him in the set-up or middle relief, Scott would be a great reliever to have come playoff time.

2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: Baltimore Orioles

Kyle Finnegan

Similar to Helsley, having a hard-throwing setup man behind Holmes would do wonders for the Yankees bullpen. Kyle Finnegan provides that and more, sporting a 1.88 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 23 strikeouts. Finnegan has also picked up 16 saves and is under club control through 2025.

It may take a couple of prospects to acquire Finnegan, but it shouldn’t require anyone high up on Cashman’s prospect list.

Ryan McMahon

The Rockies are going to unload any possible piece they can. With Anthony Rizzo struggling, the Yankees could add another corner infielder. McMahon might be a bit harder because of his long contract. He still has three years left on his six-year, $70 million contract he signed with the Rockies in 2022.

The infielder is slashing .273/.360/.449 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs in 61 games. The price for McMahon would probably be lower because of the contract he comes with, but the Rockies could move him for the right package.

Elias Diaz

The Yankees have a good mix of young/veteran catchers. Having multiple quality catchers is always an underrated factor, and Elias Diaz could fill that. The 33-year-old is coming off an All-Star season and is currency batting .302 and a 113 OPS+.

Diaz has also dramatically improved his defense, ranking in the 90th percentile of caught stealing above average. He’s set to be a free agent after this season, and pairing him with Austin Wells and Jose Trevino could be an upgrade.

2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: Boston Red Sox

Besides a few bullpen arms, the rest aren’t really necessary. I do think the Yankees should make a few of these moves because anything with the health and quality of this lineup could fall off in an instant. Either way, the Yankees are white hot and I don’t see them giving up the AL East crown this year.

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